Brandon, FL — A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot inside a Dick’s Sporting Goods dressing room, and two months later, authorities have accused his 16-year-old friend of being responsible for the deadly shooting.
Ahmad Webb is facing a manslaughter with a weapon charge in connection with the death of Jaden Law, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The shooting happened July 10 at the sporting goods store inside Brandon Exchange Mall, just outside Tampa. Deputies were called to the store around 4:30 p.m. after employees reportedly heard a gunshot.
When officers arrived, they found Law dead inside a dressing room from a single gunshot wound.
Surveillance footage captures moments after shooting
Investigators reviewing surveillance footage found that three people, including Webb and Law, had entered the store before going into the dressing room.
After the gunshot was heard, the footage showed Webb and the third person running out of the store and into a parking lot, according to authorities.
Deputies arrested the two shortly afterward.
However, investigators did not initially find a firearm on Webb. The search for the weapon continued as detectives worked to determine what happened inside the dressing room and how the gun had been disposed of.
The following day, authorities found a firearm in a retention pond just south of the mall. Testing later confirmed that the recovered gun was the weapon used in the shooting, according to investigators.
Sheriff says investigation never stopped
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said investigators continued working on the case in the weeks following Law’s death.
“This investigation has never stopped,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement.
Chronister said detectives worked to uncover the circumstances surrounding Law’s death and credited them for their efforts in bringing the case forward.
The State Attorney’s Office approved the manslaughter charge Monday after what deputies described as an extensive investigation.
Despite the arrest, authorities have not publicly released all the details about what happened immediately before the shooting. Investigators also have not disclosed what allegedly led to the confrontation or exactly how detectives identified Webb as the shooter.
A probable cause arrest affidavit that could have provided additional information was not immediately available.
Officials react to shooting at family shopping center
The shooting also prompted concern from local officials because it happened inside a retail store at a mall where families regularly shop.
Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer spoke about the incident after the shooting, emphasizing the seriousness of violence occurring in a community shopping environment.
“This is something that is really concerning. This is a place where families come to shop, to have a good time with their families,” Maurer told reporters.
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He added that authorities had no tolerance for such violence, particularly in a community setting. The medical examiner ultimately determined that Law’s death was a homicide.
Family remembers Jaden Law
As the criminal investigation moved forward, Law’s family remembered him as a kind and gentle young person. Law was described as “a sweet young boy with a soft soul.”
His obituary said his presence may be gone, but his love remains with those who knew him.
“Though he is no longer with us in person, his love lives on in our hearts,” the obituary said.
It added that his legacy of joy, kindness and unconditional love would continue to inspire his loved ones. Webb’s arrest came roughly two months after the shooting. His next court date was not immediately listed.
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